In Layman Terms – Strong Roots CD
Released November 2018
Review by Cora Price, Boogety Shoe Blues, Fraser Valley Blues Society
If you’re looking for some new style blues crossed with a
bit of jazz funk, by a young up-and-coming band, do yourself a favour and check
out In Layman Terms. This Virginia band features front woman, Logan Layman on
bass (including cigar box bass) and vocals, brother Cole on lead guitarist
& vocals, Hamed Barbarji on trumpet & flugelhorn, percussion &
vocals, Nick Davidson on drums, percussion & vocals.
You’ll find yourself grooving to the beat, that this CD
and band has to offer. Highly upbeat, rewardingly wonderful to listen to, the
band offers a breath of fresh air when it comes to their lyrics and sound. Like
a kiss of sunshine, they are candy to the ears. An impressive composition of songs and
delivery of the sultry blues style they offer. Gritty, fusion cross overs, fill
the CD.
Make Me Yours is my favorite due to the Flugelhorn. Hamed
delivers an incredibly different sound with his strong brass playing. Not many
bands mix it up to this degree and offer a professional sound that makes you
want to explore who they are and what that instrument is! The lyrics are
catchy, the instrumentation solid.
Ain’t Gonna Fake It No More, slows it down with a
traditional blues song with soft trumpet accompaniment and solid guitar and
drum.
The only cover is Cut 6, Fever. Great job of putting their
own twist to an old favorite!
Logan gives us a wonderful bass solo at the start of the
8th track – Way Too Far. The band comes in, and her vocals get you
rocking. Cole’s guitar in this cut is also exceptional, along with Hamed’s
trumpet highlights.
This is their 3rd CD and I can’t wait for the next one!
This band is now one of my favs – what they are playing is on the edge,
terrific blues with a wee bit of uniqueness thrown in for good measure. They
are superb composers and their professionalism in their delivery is certainly apparent.
They have competed six times in the IBC’s,
twice as a youth act and 4 times as a band.
To hear the CD for yourself, and to purchase, check out
their website: www.3inlaymanterms.com
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3InLaymanTerms/
I’d love to see them in concert – for the most part they
are on stage in Virginia, but I’m hoping they will get the chance to tour soon
and maybe come to Western Canada.